“Work is the curse of the drinking classes,” says Oscar Wilde. Every young professional has that unquenchable desire to hop into the nearest watering hole as soon as office hours are over. For a few, obvious reasons: to revel after the day’s frustrations, to forget about the paperwork left undone, or to simply indulge in comfort food and drink the night away.
Moonshine Bar offers solutions for the stressed urbanites in an approachable way. “We don’t want to be too snobbish. We want people to still be comfortable but have enough privacy to wind down,” explains Renz Mediarito, marketing manager and one of the five owners of Moonshine. Unlike most speakeasy concepts sprouting around the Makati Business District, Moonshine did not intend to hide completely. There are no strict exclusivity rules and codes, just a directive to have plain old fun.
The masculine interiors, dark colored bricks and wood, and dim lighting bring you back to the Prohibition Era. Instead of serving you illegal liquor, Moonshine offers a wide array of freshly muddled cocktails served in Mason jars. The fusion of fresh fruits, herbs, and strong liquor has a refreshing effect on the palate with a delayed kick.
You can’t underestimate the power of the Jungle Juice, one of Moonshine’s best signature cocktails. Its freshly muddled watermelon and cucumber mixed with gin will definitely wake your spirits as you reach the bottom of the jar.
But their drinks are just as intoxicating as their food. The truffle mac ’n’ cheese is a rich explosion of flavors with cheddar, mozzarella, and Emmental cheeses combined with the truffle oil’s earthiness. Don’t think about dieting as you feast on the bacon-dusted fries or while making your own s’mores, as both dishes will leave you feeling a bit guilty but more than satisfied.
Moonshine also offers classic shooters for a faster hit, with cocktails such as mojitos and margaritas, as well as brewskies. So the next time your boss gives you a scolding, think twice before you give up and head over to Moonshine instead.
Moonshine Bar. Unit 1C, Valdelcon Building, Jupiter Street, Barangay Bel-Air, Makati City. 478-7340. moonshineph@yahoo.com. www.facebook.com/MoonshineBarPH.
Photos by Gabby Cantero